The Kansas Jayhawks are in the process of rebuilding after what many could rightly call a slightly disappointing 2025/26 season.
In that process, several Jayhawks have left the program via lack of eligibility, the NBA, or the elephant in the room, the transfer portal.
One of the very few players remaining on the current Jayhawks is guard Kohl Rosario, who will be entering his sophomore season when next year rolls around.
Rosario’s freshman season showed promise
The former OTE player notched a strong average of 5.3 points per game over his opening 13 games, but his role took a sudden decrease as conference play launched and Bill Self shortened up his rotation. Rosario then saw bit-part minutes until the end of the season.
In Kansas’ Big 12 Tournament semifinal 69-47 loss to the Houston Cougars, Rosario came off the bench and was a positive, finishing with eight points, four rebounds, and one assist.
Days later, when Kansas took on St. John’s in the second round of the NCAA Tournament, Rosario played a vital part in dismantling the Red Storm’s 14-point lead, adding five points and two rebounds through his nine minutes on the court.
Rosario gives Kansas fans a strong message of a promising future
In a previous pregame interview, Rosario shared a message that should get Kansas fans off their seats.
In honor of @kohl_rosario's return, here's one of the best quotes any Jayhawk had all season. He shared this during a pregame interview in February and it seems especially fitting a couple months later.
— Brian Hanni (@BHanni) April 13, 2026
Keep sowing those seeds of hard work, Kohl. Big harvest to reap next season.… pic.twitter.com/bONpWYmtBq
“I want to say, this world right now is, they're not really, like, attentive to delayed gratification. They want something that's kind of right now. And if you work at something for a little bit, you don't get what you want right away. People tend to give up,” quoted Rosario.
“I feel like that's a lot with this generation. And I think right now, what's really rewarding is the delayed gratification, so, always putting the work in, even when you don't see the results right away, so I think that's what's really sticking with me. Getting better every single day, even if you're not seeing the reward right away. I think that's what I grew up on, and that's what stuck with me, so that's what I live by.”
Rosario’s increased role ahead of next season
As of writing, the Jayhawks have yet to bring anyone in through the portal, and while the 2026 recruiting class will be one stockpiled full of talent, Rosario will have to experience an increased role ahead of next season. According to 247Sports, Kansas will be adding the likes of five-star guard Taylen Kinney, four-star center Davion Adkins, four-star wing Trent Perry, and four-star shooting guard Luke Barnett. Looming over the collegiate basketball world right now, of course, is the future of the nation’s No. 1 player, Tyran Stokes, whose future is anything but clear.
While there is so much uncertainty over the likes of next season’s roster, being able to have the likes of someone with the mindset of Rosario should be a boon.
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